Online Sports Editor, The Age

Winning the pre-season Wizard Cup in 2004 was not enough to draw a smile from then St Kilda coach Grant Thomas and Lenny Hayes. Photo: John French

COMMENT

The NAB Cup, despite its status as a semi-serious lead-up to the home-and-away season, at least had a fraction of credibility and enough interest for fans thanks to its knock-out format.

The AFL was fully entitled over the years to experiment with the pre-season competition, but clubs had one element of certainty: winning was usually the overriding aim to reach the next stage. Sure, some clubs took it more seriously than others and put genuine value on a grand final berth - or at least on the importance of going deep in the tournament - but footy fans were rarely bothered as everyone knew where they stood.

With the abandonment of the NAB Cup, the AFL was forced to rethink its approach in the crucial weeks before round one. With sponsors and broadcasters to appease, along with the desires of clubs to have serious competition, the new format was never going to be straightforward. Footy officials even seriously flirted with the idea of a 'captain's pick' representative game as part of the mix.

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What they did lob for this year, however, is the concept of a 'round-robin' of footy - 18 games over 18 days - to please a footy-starved audience (not to mention a very important sponsor looking to endorse a credible and believable concept!).

Described as a 'carnival of footy', the 18-day extravaganza will certainly get fans reaccustomed to wall-to-wall footy but let's get one thing straight - it is nothing but a stack of practice games played on successive days! There's not even an obscure trophy to take home at the end of it. *

The AFL revealed the NAB Challenge format back in late October, making special mention of the fact that the matches would be played in all states and territories and would take footy to venues that don't normally host footy during the premiership season. Well, ahem, that's what praccy games have been about since Dustin Fletcher was a boy.

"After a comprehensive review of both the pre-season period and the premiership season by the AFL commission and executive during 2013, it was determined that the consensus view among clubs was that two competitive matches was the appropriate preparation for the regular season, resulting in a revised NAB Challenge format," the AFL said in its media release.

Well, that's fine, if two games (with a minimum six-day break) is the ideal number of games clubs are seeking as genuine hit-outs in the countdown to the real season. It just gets a little more perplexing when you realise what happens in the period after the NAB Challenge finishes and the first bounce of round one.

The's AFL general manager of broadcasting Simon Lethlean goes further to explain the 'new' format: "All clubs have a minimum six-day break between their games and every match has been scheduled either as a night game or late-afternoon match to avoid the peak heat in the late summer period,” he said in the release.

"The shortened format enables clubs to use their senior players as they see fit to prepare for the opening to the premiership season, as well as offering the flexibility to provide opportunities for new players and rookies that is such a key feature of the NAB Challenge.

"As we introduced for the 2012 season, by having fixtured each club's matches for the NAB Challenge, clubs are aware of their travel schedule and can fully plan their preparation and training workload as they build up to the start of the premiership season."

Surely, that means all clubs put their feet up before Collingwood and Fremantle go head-to-head for the first four premiership points of the season at Etihad Stadium barely two weeks later?

Well, actually no! The AFL has already confirmed the schedule for - wait for it, drum roll please - a series of practice matches for all clubs AFTER the NAB Challenge. And guess what? Some of those games are in 'non-traditional' venues such as Burpengary in Queensland (Lions v Swans) with the 50-50 chance the Essendon-Richmond game will take place in Craigieburn.

Yes, that's right. Clubs, in fact, have THREE practice games - that's three games played without points against fellow AFL teams - before the ball is bounced in anger.

It just goes to show - spin is not solely reserved for cricket fields during the summer months.

We're not really fazed that the NAB Cup has been given the boot after all these years, but please remember this: a practice match is, well, simply a practice match.

* The AFL may yet pull a rabbit out of the hat on this one.

50 comments so far

Can we please just extend the regular season already?

Commenter

Max Power

Date and time

February 04, 2014, 12:50PM

What Max said.

Commenter

Really?

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

February 04, 2014, 12:56PM

Agree

Commenter

Go Blues

Date and time

February 04, 2014, 1:24PM

The NAB Cup was an exciting and closely followed competition drawing some big crowds before the ridiculous 9 point goal killed it.

Commenter

Cathy Little

Location

Prahran

Date and time

February 04, 2014, 1:41PM

No way, they should reduce the amount of games played in the regular season to 17 played over 22 rounds. Every teams plays each other once and the fixture becomes even and fair. Scrap the pre season competition and only allow intra club practice matches.

Commenter

Trashman

Date and time

February 04, 2014, 3:13PM

I agree! Ditch any pretence of a "pre-season cup" or "carnival of footy" and just extend the home & away season by an extra four or five rounds. While we're at it, scrap the mid-season breaks - these guys are supposed to be professional athletes, why do they need two weeks off in the middle of the season? If some players can't cope with the rigours of playing modern football, then their clubs can simply rest them as needed - same effect as a mid-season break, but it can be done at a time to suit the player's needs and we get more football and a fairer draw.

Commenter

arb

Date and time

February 04, 2014, 4:13PM

The AFL clubs need a few practice games. I don't have a problem with what they are doing now. The NAB cup is a joke, with the dumb rules and Americanised 9 point goal rubbish. I could not care less and Im not the only one. Nothing wrong with a simple practice match, as all the other stuff is just window dressing, and the footy fan knows it. In essence we live for the real stuff, that is it. The pre-season is just the little teaser. At least we get to see a few players (new & old) being tried differently.

But the real season should be starting early April and finishing mid October. Given the heat in March and the changing seasons, the AFL should be thinking of the players welfare.

Well, let's call it a 19-day 'carnival of footy' for starters. The 18-day NAB Challenge finishes and then Gold Coast and Collingwood play at Metricon Stadium the next day. What gives? I've got absolutely no problem with practice matches but that's simply what they are. What's the point of a 'NAB Challenge' if no-one wins? Last time I checked there's no prize money for struggling clubs to fight for.

Commenter

Scott Spits

Date and time

February 04, 2014, 1:54PM

I'm not sure you answered the question, Scott. Or are you genuinely saying that a tweak to the name fixes everything?